Credit-account file-cabinet.



M. L. STEGMAIER.

CREDIT ACCOUNT FILE CABINET. AIPPLIOATION FILED 512131230, 1908.

Patented June 15, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M. L. STBGMAIER. CREDIT ACCOUNT FILE CABINET. APPLICATION FILED. SEPT. at), 1908- Patented June 15,1909.

3 BHBBT8-8HEET 2.

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M. L. STEGMAIER.

CREDIT ACCOUNT FILE CABINET.

Patented June 15,1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Michael L .Sfe dmaez UNITED STATES PATENT MICHAEL L. s'rnenamn, or ounnnna nn, MARYLAND.

exam-raccoons sins-memes.

Specification of Letters Patenti Patented June 15, 1909.

Application filed September 30, 1908. Serial No. 456,532.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL L. S'rne- Mal an, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cumberland, in the county of Allegany and State ofMaryland, have invented anew and useful Credit-Account File-Cabinet, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in filing cabinets of that type provided with a series of indexed compartments, into the requisite ones of which, the papers orthelike are placed so as to be susceptible of ready accesswhen desired for use.

The primary ob mt of my invention a filing cabinet in which the shelves forming the series of filing compartments may be 001- lapsed with the papers thereb'etween, to constltute. a compact structure that may be conveniently removed from the case or cabinet so asto be stowed away in a safe, thus pre-I -clud1ng the liability of damage to the ac counts therein over night, or at other times when the accounts are not desired foruse.

And the invention also has for its object an improved filing cabinet, particularly adapted for use in stores maintaining a credit system and which is arranged to contain the accounts of the various credit customers in such a manner that any desired account may 'be expeditiously located and removed so as to have the item entered thereon at the time of the sale, thereby insuring all of the ac counts being posted to date and eliminating the use of the obviously objectionable pass books.

With these and other objects in viewxthat will fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions andarrangements ofthe parts that I fshall hereinafter fully describe, and then pointout the novel features thereof in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, and to acquire a. knowledge of the details of construction,

reference is to'be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in

which: v Figure 1 1s a perspective View of a filing cabinet constructed in accordance with-the invention; Fig, 2 is a similar view showing the shelves collapsed into the drawer; Fig. 3 is a similar View with the drawer partially withdrawn; 'Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the flexible connecto in the followin tion between the shelves; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view ehowingahe engagement of one of the latches with the keeper plate; Fig 6 is asimilar view of the catch; and, Fig. 7 is a detailview showing the manner of removably mounting the index strip in the top of the case.

Corresponding and like parts are referred e description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

My improved filing cabinet consists essentiall of a case 1 which may be of any desire or approved construction or design, except as hereinafter noted, and which 15 provided preferably at its front with hinged double doors 2 by means of which the interior of the case. is rendered readily acessible. Moimted within the case 1 are a plurality of shelves 3 which are a'i'rangedhorizontally and are substantially co-extensive with the interior dimensions of the top and bottom of thecase and which are designed to be flexibly connected together in any suitable manner. In the present instance, these shelves are connected at their side edges by two or more leather or other similar flexible bonds 3 that are secured 'at longitudinally spaced points to corresponding laterally disposed lugs 5 which are provided on the re spective shelves and work in vertically dis posed uide channels (3 formed in the oppo site site walls of the case. The shelves 3 are also formed with preferably elongated registering central apertures 7 through the instrumentality of which the various shelves are slidingly mounted upon a central guide barS that is disposed vertically between the I which in the present instance are in the form of flat springs that are secured at their lower ends to the said sidesand that have their upper ends normally disposed inwardly in spaced relation thereto. The

upper ends 10 of the catches. are arranged to be pressed outwardly against the side openings 13 ward movement of the uppermost shelf 3, but as soon as said shelf has passed upwardly beyond the extremities 10, the latter spring inwardly to assume their normal positions, so that the uppermost shelf rests thereupon and is held against any reverse movement, thereby retaining the series of shelves xtendeth The upper extremities of the spring catches are preferably outwardly disposed ears 11 to which plungers 12 are connected at their inner ends, said plungers pas-sing loosel outwardly in formed in the sides of the case and terminating beyond such sides in suitable heads 14. With this construction, it is possible for the operator to slide the plungers oppositely and outwardly and thus move the angular-1y disposed extremities 10 of the swmging catches outwardly against the sides of the case so as to remove the means of support for the uppermost shelf 3, whereupon the shelves move downwardly to assume collapsed positions, as illustrated in il'hen the shelves are in the knocked-down position ust described, they are entirely recelved 111 a drawer or like receptacle 15 that formed with 1 is removably placed in the lower portionof the case 1 and that is preferably constructed without a front so as not to interfere with access to the lowermost compartments when the shelves are extended. The sides of the drawer 15are formed ino posite faces with channels 16 in which the ugs 5 of the shelves enter in the collapsed position of the shelves whereby the shelves are held in the drawer.

The channels 6 in the case are continuous to the channels 16 of the drawer and receive the tongues or lugs 5 of the shelves when the shelves are extended.

The central guide bar 8 is constructed in two sections 17 and17", the uppermost section 17 being rigid with and depending from the top of the case 1, while the lowermost section 17 projects upwardly from the bottom of the drawer 15, the said sections being separated substantially in the plane of the 11 per edges of the drawer and being arrange for vertical alinement when the drawer is in its normal posit-ion in the case. section 1'7 is preferably equipped at its front and rear edges with toothed keeper plates 18,

and the uppermost shelf carries pivoted latches 19 designed to be engaged with corresponding teeth of the'keeper plates to hold the shelves in colla sed position and admit of the drawer being liandled when withdrawn from the case. without the liability of the vshelves becoming accidentally extended.

It of course understood that the lowermo t section 1.7 of the central uide bar 8 assists in preventing the shelves from falling out of the drawer by a movement toward The lowermost the front of the drawer, and that the latches 19 also constitute partof the means for preventing, in connection with the section 17 the shelves from dropping out of the'drawer, while the latches 19 and section 17 by themselves prevent the extending of the shelves while in the drawer, irrespective of the ln 5 and the grooves or channels 16. T c

shelves are retained in the case in extended condition not only by the lugs 5 on the shelves and their position in the channels 6, butalso by means ofthe central guide bar 8, the lower section of which is carried-by the drawer, and removable therewith.

As before stated, the drawer 15 is normally held in the case 1, and as the preferred means for attaining this object, I employ a vertically disposed indexing strip 20 that is arranged substantially in the plane of the guide bar 8 and that is provided at its opposite ends with tongues 21 which are arranged to be 2-2 formed fitted into mort ses in the top of the case and the bottom of the drawer, respectively.

The tongue at the upper extremity of the indexing strip of such a length as to admit of sufficient-alpward movement 'of the latter to disengage the opposite tongue from the mortise in the drawer, and the indexing strip is then moved downwardly to withdraw the upper tongue from the top of the case, whereupon the in dexmg strip is entirely removed from posttlon and hence releases the;drawer 15 and" admits of the same being removed from the case 1 It isto be particularly observed that when the shelves are extended, the central guide bar 8 constitutes a partition and forms two vertically arranged series of compartments, and the indexing strip 20 displays two columns of reference characters 23, the chap acters ofthe said columns being adapted for registry with the compartments of therespective seriesjust mentioned so as tode'signate said compartments, as by the alphabet, in order that the account of any customer may be found'in the compartment whose reference character corresponds with the initial letter of the customers surname. i

In the preferred construction of my improved cabiuet, I )rovide upon the top of the case 1 a suitah e holderfll for a pad of sales slips, and arrange in proximit to the said holder, :1 spring clip-25 .,adapt to sustain a sheet of carbon paperover the uppermost slip of the pad. The top of the case 1 is also provided with impaling pins 26.

Before describing the manner of using a cabinet embodying the improvements of my invention, it is to assumed that the shelves 3 are'extended in operative position, with the compartments of the respective series arranged in proximity to the reference characters '23, and the account of the 'custmnerfl the letters of account of the customer in. question,

contained in the requisite compartments. In the event of at Salem a customer. maintaining a credit account, the Storekeeper 0 ens one or the doors 2, and after glancing a ong the column of reference characters 23, with draws from the requisite compartment the This account is then placed over or upon the sheet of carbonizedpaper, and the various items of the particular sale are entered upon the account, the account being then returned to its place in the filing cabinet and. the uppermost slip of the pad which bears the carbon copy of the cntryfupon the account, being detached and handed to the customer. With such a system, it will be evident that the various items of each sale are entered upon the customers account at the time of pur chase, and hence the various credit accounts will be always posted to date, thereby effecting a material economy. in the time and labor usually required for this purpose. Inasmuch as these accounts are original records of he cu tomer-s indebtedness to the Storekeeper, it would be unwise to permit the a unts to r main in the cabinet over,

night or at other times when the cabinet system is not in use, since the accounts would thus be needlessly exposed to the liability of loss, misplaceinent or damage by fire or the like. However, with my improved filing cabinet. such a course would not be required, as when the storekeeper closes-his business for the day, it is only necessary to draw the plungers 12 outwardly to operate the spring atches 9 and release the uppermost shelf 3,

so that all of the shelves will fall downwardly or becomccollapsed with the acu ts nt rpos d therehetween. The uppermost shelf 8 is thenpressed downwardly tov compress. the papers between the shelves, and the latches 19 are engaged with-the two keeper plates 18 to hold the parts against becoming accidentally extended. The indexing strip 20 is removed as before described so as to release the drawer 15, and

the latter, together with the collapsed shelves contained therein, is withdrawn fromthe case 1 and is placed in a safe of the like in order to secure the protection of'the accounts. At the resumption of business the drawer is again inserted in th case; .1, the latches 19 are disengaged fro the lower section 17 of the guide bar 8 and the shelves may then be easily extended and then held in extended condition by means (if the spring catches 9. i

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanyingidrawings, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved filing ca-binet in whichl the shelves formin g the filing compartmentslare mounted in a removable drawer and maytbdextended into an operat ve posltlon 1n thd casTe of the cabinet. or collapsed into the drawer, accord- ,ment, and are suitably aided in the case to relieve the conn cting means of excessive strain; which e1 bodies the characteristics of simplicity, durability and lightness; and

which consists. 0f"co1nparatively few parts that may be easily and cheaply manufactured and readily assembled.

It is to be understood that, the word mg as des1red.;--1n wlnch the varlous shelves are flexibly connected to permit such movedrawer in the appended claims is not to be construed as limi ed to a sliding receptacle, and that various chan es in the con-' struction and arrangement 0t this and other parts of the devlce may be made wlthout departing from-the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

. Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

l. A; filing cabinet, comprising a case, a set of collapsible and extensible shelves, :1

drawer arranged to contain said shelves in the collapsed condition thereof and adapted to be movednto and out of the case, 1neans r for locking the shelves in the drawer against l accidental displacement thereof, the shelves being arranged tobe extended witliin the case, and means for holding theshelyes extended.

2. A- filing cabine comprising alcase, a 4

set of collapsible an l extensible shelves, a

drawer arranged to contain said shelves in the collapsed condition thereof and adapted to move into and out of the case, means for holding the shelves in collapsed condition in the drawer, the shelves being arranged to be extended within the case, and means for holding the shelves extended.

3. A filing cabinet, comprising case, a v

set of collapsible and extensible shelves, a drawer arranged to contain saidshelves in the collapsed-condition thereof and adapted to move into and out of the case with the shelves in collapsed condition,- the drawer be- I ing formed with channels and the shelves with; lugs sliding-in said channels, the case being formed with channels that are continuations of the channels in the drawer whereby to permit the extending of the shelves in the case, and means for holding said shelves extended.-

4; A filing cabinet, comprising a case, a set of collapsible and extensible shelves, a

drawer arranged to contain said shelves in the collapsed condition thereof, and adapted to be moved into and out of the case, a guide bar mounted within the case and drawer and dividing the shelves into a plurality of series of compartments, the shelves being formed with apertures by which they are fitted: to

slide lon said bar in the extending and collapsing movements of the shelves in the case,

and means for holding said shelves extended. 5. A filing cabinet, comprising a case, a set of collapsible and extensible shelves, a

thecollapsed condition'thereof, and adapted to be moved intoand out of the case with the shelves in collapsed condition, a sectional guide bar mounted in the case, one section of said guide bar being secured to the case and the other section to the drawer, the shelves being formed with apertures by which-they are mounted to slide over said sections in their extending and collapsing movements, and means for holding said shel'ves extended.

3. A filing cabinet, comprising a case, a set of collapsible and extensible shelves, a drawer arranged to contain said shelves in the collapsed condition thereof, and adapted to be moved into and outof the case with the shelves in collapsed conditioma guidebar mounted in the case, and formed with keepers, the shelves being formed wiih'apertures by which they are mounted to slide on said guide bar, and a latch secured to an end shelf of the set, and designed to engage said keepers whereby to lock the shelves in the drawer, as against the extension movement.

7. A filing cabinet, comprising a case, a set of collapsible and extensible shelves, a drawer arranged tocontain said shelves in the collapsed condition thereofand adapted to move into and out of the case with the shelves in collapsed condition, the shelves be ing arranged to be extended in the case, means for holdingthe shelves extended, and means for retaining the shelves in the case in extended condition.

, .8. A filing cabinet comprising a case, a

of collapsiblenn extensible shelves, a

drawer arranged to contain said shelves in the collapsed condition thereof and adapted to move into and out of the case with the shelves in collapsed, condition, the shelves being arranged to be extended in the case,

means for holding the shelves extended, and

means for retaining the shelves in the case in extended condition, said last named means becoming inoperative upon the releasin of the holdingmeans and the collapsing of the shelves.

9. A filing cabinet, comprising a case, a set of collapsible and extensible shelves, a drawer arranged to contain said shelves in the collapsed condition of the same, and adapted to be moved into and out of the case with the shelves in collapsed condition, the shelves being arranged to be extended in the case, means for holding the shelves extended, and an indexing strip arranged to hold the drawer in the case,

10. A filing cabinet, comprising a case, a set of collapsible and extensible shelves, a drawer arranged to contain the shelves in the-collapsed condition thereof and adapted to be moved into and out of the case with the shelves in such collapsed condition, the shelves being arranged to 'be extended within the case at right angles to the direction of movement of the drawer, and means for retaining the set of shelves within the case in their extended condition.

MICHAEL L. STEGMAIER.

Witnesses: a

WM. L. MCGRAY, GEORGE M. MCOUNE. 

